DETECTION OF GROUNDWATER DISCHARGE POINTS IN COASTAL REGIONS AROUND MT. CHOKAISAN, JAPAN BY USING LANDSAT ETM+ DATA

The flow of freshwater into the sea, termed as submarine groundwater discharge, is a key factor for understanding the hydrological cycle in both the sea and land regions. The numerous positions from which freshwater gushes out or its quantity impedes the understanding of its properties. Therefore, this study detects groundwater discharge points arising due to the difference in freshwater and seawater by using the multispectral Landsat ETM+ signals. A case study in coastal regions around Mt. Chokaisan, Japan is performed. This study comprises three procedures: (1) computer simulation of the flow of submarine groundwater discharge in the study area, (2) performance of preliminary experiment on the band properties of the Landsat ETM+, (3) detection of the difference in water properties by using the Landsat multispectral bands. Our experimental results obtained by the Landsat ETM+ are in considerable agreement with the realities in the study area.